Rep. Al Green Escorted Out of House Chamber After Protest During Trump State of the Union Address

Texas Congressman Al Green was escorted out of the House chamber just minutes after President Donald Trump began delivering his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Green held up a sign reading “Black people aren’t apes!” before he was removed. After leaving the chamber, the longtime Democratic lawmaker said he wanted to make a public statement directly to the president.

Green said his protest was tied to a recent controversy involving a social media video shared and later deleted by Trump that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The president said he had not seen the offensive portion of the video and blamed a staff member for the post, but declined to apologize.

House Democratic leaders had previously urged members to remain quiet during the speech or skip attending altogether to avoid disruptions that could shift attention away from the president’s address. Green said his actions were not meant to defy leadership but to take a stand.

Green, who has long been a vocal critic of Trump and has previously attempted to impeach him, said he believes public protest is necessary when confronting racism.

The incident briefly interrupted the formal proceedings and quickly drew national attention, highlighting ongoing political tensions surrounding the State of the Union and reactions to recent controversies involving the president.

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